BAYANIHAN, BAKUNAHAN. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III helps administer Covid-19 vaccines at a mall in Antipolo City on Monday (Nov. 29, 2021). President Rodrigo Duterte witnessed the administration of primary doses and booster shots during the opening day of the nationwide vaccination program. (PNA photo by Robert Alfiler)
MANILA – The Philippines will receive more than 46 million doses of coronavirus vaccines until December, National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Monday.
The growing vaccine supply should be accompanied by an accelerated vaccination program and expanded inoculation capacity at the local levels, Galvez said.
"We believe that this can only be achieved through the concerted efforts of all sectors of the society and this is exactly what we are doing today throughout the country with the help of our private sector partners," Galvez said during a vaccination activity at an Antipolo City mall, part of the three-day "Bayanihan, Bakunahan" nationwide drive.
The Covid-19 vaccine deliveries in the country, both procured and donated, have reached 142,153,340 doses so far.
President Rodrigo Duterte witnessed the simultaneous administration of primary doses and booster shots to health care workers (A1), senior citizens (A2), immunocompromised adults, uniformed personnel (A4), and the 12-17 age group.
Duterte thanked national government agencies and local government units, along with their private partners, for participating in the massive vaccination drive.
He also commended all responsible for the acquisition of Covid-19 vaccines.
Galvez said “Bayanihan, Bakunahan”, which will end on December 1, is "timely and another milestone" in the country's pandemic response and mitigation efforts.
"This is by far the biggest vaccination event we have held since we rolled out the national vaccination program [in March] this year," he said.
Galvez said the government's primary goal to vaccinate at least 9 million individuals daily in 17 regions and the National Capital Region (NCR) "is our most ambitious target so far".
"With the many milestones we have achieved in our vaccination program, we are very optimistic that we will be having a better and safer Christmas this year," he added.
The latest data from the Department of Health (DOH), as of 4 p.m. on Monday, showed the Philippines administered 547,628 doses of Covid-19 jabs during the first day of the nationwide campaign.
The DOH noted that Regions 1 (Ilocos), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 4B (Mimaropa), 4A (Calabarzon), and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) have the highest vaccination throughput so far, although no data were available yet as of posting time.
The government aims to provide full protection against Covid-19 to at least 54 million Filipinos, about 80 percent of the 12-17 age group's total population, and complete the provision of booster shots for health care workers by the end of 2021. (PNA)
